Process for making poly-alpha-oxyacrylic acid and its alkali metal salts

ABSTRACT

Production of poly- Alpha -oxyacrylic acid by contacting a solution of Alpha -chloracrylic acid with one or more radicalyielding polymerization catalysts, heating and thereby hydrolyzing the resulting poly- Alpha -chloracrylic acid in queous solution with the resultant precipitation of solid polyAlpha -oxyacrylic acid and separating the poly- Alpha -oxyacrylic acid. More particularly, and aqueous Alpha -chloracrylic acid solution is contacted with the radical-yielding polymerization catalysts for a period of at least 30 minutes and, while leaving the resulting poly- Alpha -chloracrylic acid unseparated, it is heated for a period of at least 1 hour to temperatures within the range 80* and 110*C.

United States Patent 91 Vogt et a1.

[ PROCESS FOR MAKING POLY-ALPHA-OXYACRYLIC ACID AND ITS ALKALI METAL SALTS [75] Inventors: Wilhelm Vogt, l-lurth-Efferen; Edgar Fischer, Frankfurt am Main; Eberhard Auer, Erftstadt Liblar, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft,

Knapsack, near Cologne, Germany [22] Filed: June21, 1974 21 Appl.No.: 481,814

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 15, 1973 Germany 2346500 [52] US. Cl. 260/80 P; 204/l59.22; 260/80 R; 260/80 M [51] Int. Cl. C08f 3/44 [58] Field of Search 260/80 M, 80 P, 80 R; 204/l59.22

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,352,771 11/1967 Anspon 204/l59.23

[ 1 June 17, 1975 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 2,161,727 7/1972 Germany Primary E.raminer.loseph L. Schofer Assistant Examiner-Herbert .l. Lilling Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Connolly and Hutz [57] ABSTRACT Production of poly-a-oxyacrylic acid by contacting a solution of a-chloracrylic acid with one or more radical-yielding polymerization catalysts, heating and thereby hydrolyzing the resulting poly-a-chloracrylic acid in queous solution with the resultant precipitation of solid poly-a-oxyacrylic acid and separating the 14 Claims, N0 Drawings PROCESS FOR MAKING POLY-ALPHA-OXYACRYLIC ACID AND ITS ALKALI METAL SALTS Poly-a-oxyacrylic acid or its alkali metal salts can be used as complex formers for calcium and magnesium ions. In addition to this, they are capable of inhibiting the precipitation of overstoechiometric proportions of calcium carbonate in an aqueous carbonate-containing solution, e.g., in hard water. This property is termed power for sequestering lime. 1n view of these two properties, it has been suggested that poly-ozoxyacrylates be used as builders in detergent compositions (cf. German Patent Specifications Offenlegungsschriften 2 136 672 and 2 161 727).

C. S. Marvel et al. (J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 62 (1940), pages 3495 3498) were the first to produce poly-aoxyacrylic acid and its alkali metal salts. As reported, a solution of a-chloracrylic acid in an organic solvent is irradiated with the light of a mercury lamp and solid poly-a-chloracrylic acid is obtained. It is isolated, dissolved in water and heated to boiling with the resulting formation of poly-a-oxyacrylic acid, which is obtained in the form ofa water-soluble gel. The product so made is dried and subjected to elementary analysis. It is found that it is free from chloride and that approximately two thirds of the carboxyl groups have reacted with hydroxyl groups to intramolecular or intermolecular lactones. The poly-a-oxyacrylic acid so made is soluble in alkali liquors.

This process has been improved and described in Belgian Patent Specification 796 531, Example 1, wherein a blend of 100 g of a-chloracrylic acid, 400 cc of benzene and 1 g of benzoyl peroxide is placed in a round flask provided with an agitator and reflux condenser and heated therein to boiling over a period of 3 hours under nitrogen. The resulting poly-a-chloracrylic acid is separated and dried at 40C under vacuum. Following this, an aqueous poly-oz-chloracrylic acid solution saturated at 30C is prepared and heated to boiling for 2 hours. Precipitating hydrolyzate is Washed until free from chloride and dried at 60C under vacuum. Poly-aoxyacrylic acid, of which about one third is lactonized, is obtained in a yield of 77 g or 100 percent of the theoretical, based on the a-chloracrylic acid used.

Poly-a-halogenoacrylic acid (halogen Cl, Br) is actually easy to produce preparatively by polymerizing a-halogenoacrylic acid in an organic medium, however, by multi-stage operation and with the use of organic solvents, which is too expensive for the production of relatively large quantities of poly-a-oxyacrylic acid. In addition to this, the poly-a-oxyacrylic acid so made is not biodegradable.

German Specification Offenlegungsschrift 2 061 584 describes a process for making water-soluble salts of poly-a-oxyacrylic acid, wherein 2.3- dihalogenopropionic acid in aqueous solution, if desired in the presence of radically active catalysts, e.g., potassium peroxo-disulfate-(VI) is heated to boiling for several hours together with basically active agents. This results in the formation of an intermediary product having an unidentified structure, which may contain lactone bonds together with radicals of chemically combined halogen. The intermediary product, which is believed to be formed substantially of poly-w oxyacrylic acid, is separated, washed and successively dissolved in hot sodium hydroxide solution. Pouring the cooled solution in methanol effects the precipitation of sodium poly-a-oxyacrylate.

This process is, however, not fully satisfactory as it is necessary for it to be carried out with the use of costly 2,3-dibromopropionic acid so as to avoid losses in yield. If less expensive 2,3-dichloropropionic acid is used, it is necessary for it to be used in combination with sodium acetate as the basically active agent so as to obtain poly-a-oxyacrylic acid in acceptable, though distinctly lower yields (cf. comparative working Example 1 hereinafter). lf use is made of KOH, the yield decreases even further and considerable quantities of unpolymerizable a-chlorhydracrylic acid are obtained as undesirable by-products (cf. comparative working Example 2 hereinafter). Even though it would be possible by the selection of optimum working conditions to increase the yield of poly-a-oxyacrylic acid, the fact remains that the process described in German Patent Specification Offenlegungsschrift 2 061 584 for making water-soluble salts of poly-a-oxyacrylic acid is not satisfactory as it is necessary for the dehydrohalogenation to be effected with the use of equivalent proportions of a base. The base, however, is converted to halide which has to be disposed of. In other words, the production on a relatively large scale entails pollution problems, which considerably affect the economy of the process.

The present invention now provides a process which is free from the disadvantageous phenomena reported hereinabove.

The present invention relates more particularly to a process for making poly-a-oxyacrylic acid by contacting a solution of a-chloracrylic acid with one or more radical-yielding polymerization catalysts, heating and thereby hydrolyzing the resulting poly-a-chloracrylic acid in aqueous solution with the resultant precipitation of solid poly-a-oxyacrylic acid and separating the poly-oz-oxyacrylic acid, which process comprises contacting an aqueous a-chloracrylic acid solution with the radical-yielding polymerization catalysts for a period of at least 30 minutes and, while leaving the resulting poly-a-chloracrylic acid unseparated, heating it for a period of at least 1 hour to temperatures within the range and C.

Further preferred features of the present process provide:

a. for light rich in energy to be used as the radicalyielding polymerization catalyst;

b. for potassium peroxo-disulfate-(VI), sodium perborate, azo-bis-isobutyronitrile, benzoyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide or cumene hydroperoxide to be used as the radical-yielding polymerization catalysts in proportions within the range 0.1 and 12 weight percent, based on a-chloracrylic acid;

c. for a redox system comprised of an oxidant and a reductant to be used as the radical-yielding polymerization catalyst in a total proportion within the range 0.1 and 20 weight percent, based on a-chloracrylic acid;

(1. for potassium peroxo-disulfate-(VI), sodium perborate, benzoyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide or cumene hydroperoxide to be used as the oxidant, and for sodium dithionite, sodium sulfite, sodium thiosulfate or thioglycolic acid to be used as the reductant;

e. for the aqueous a-chloracrylic acid solution to be used in admixture with between 0.5 and 10 mol percent, based on a-chloracrylic acid, of a thiol, allyl compound or aliphatic halogen compound as a polymerization chain regulator;

f. for the aqueous a-chloracrylic acid solution to be hydrolysis product begins to precipitate at once. Here again, it is advantageous for the hydrolysis to be completed by heating the polymerization batch to approximately 100C, unless this is the starting temperature seused in admixture with hydrogen chloride as the 5 lected. polymerization chain regulator, and preferably for To effect the precipitation of poly-a-oxyacrylic acid, an a-chloracrylic acid solution in aqueous l 25 it is also advantageous for the a-chloracrylic acid to be weight percent hydrochloric acid to be subjected to polymerized at a pH of less than 2.5. This is a pH-value polymerization; which a-chloracrylic acid itself does normally not exg. for the aqueous solution of a-chloracrylic acid havl0 ceed, or which can be established, if necessary, by ing optionally radical-yielding polymerization catameans of a strong acid, e.g., sulfuric acid, preferably lysts dissolved therein to be vigorously stirred for h d hl i id, a period Of at least 30 minutes; The materials which can advantageously be added as h. for an HqlICOUS -chloracrylic ac d Solution h ng polymerization regulators to the polymerization batch a radical-yielding polymerization catalyst or a so as to modify the complexing power and limeredox system dissolved therein or being exposed to sequestering power of poly-a-oxyacrylic acid, include, the action of light r c n energy, o be maintained for example: thiols (thioglycolic acid, octylmercaptan, at temperatures within the range and dodecylmercaptan); allyl compounds (allyl alcohol, for an aqueous a'ehloraeryhe acid Solution allyl acetate, allyl chloride) or aliphatic halogen comtaihihg one of the radical-yielding Polymerization 20 pounds (B-chlorpropionic acid, 2,3-dichlorpropionic Catalysts Speeified under above, to be heated to acid, monochloracetic acid, chloroform, bromoform, temperatures Within the range and carbon tetrachloride, carbon tetrabromide). in clear lfor the pely'a'ehloraetyhe acid Obtained in q contrast with the radical-yielding polymerization cata- 0115 medium t0 be left unisoiated and to be Vigorlysts, which are initiators and for which it is neces- Stirred for a Perled of at least 1 hour at sary to be present (be it only in the form of light rich PetattlreS within the range and 1 10C; in energy), the polymerization regulators influence the k. for the poly-a-oxyacrylic acid being obtained in h i l h f h resulting polymem Solid form on heating the aqueous solution to Hydrogen chloride is also an effective polymerization PetattlreS within the range and 1 to be regulator. It is especially advantageous for the polymertered Off, to be scrubbed water and to be dried ization to be effected in hydrochloric acid having a under acuu strength approximately of 20 weight percent, rather As has been found, it is possible for the complexthan in pure water. As an advantageous result of this, forming and lime-sequestering properties of poly-ahydrogen chloride which is set free during the hydrolyoxyacrylic acid to be influenced by the use of various sis at about 100C, is found to escape in vapor form as initiators and by the use of the reaction solution in adthe reaction medium is practically identical with aquemixture with various addends. In addition to this, polyous azeotropic hydrochloric acid, at that temperature. a-oxyacrylic acid so produced has unexpectedly been After removal of poly-a-oxyacrylic acid by filtration, it found to be more readily biodegradable, which is adis possible for the reaction medium to be used for makvantageous for its use as a builder in detergent compoing fresh polymerization batches. In other words, gasesitions. ous hydrogen chloride is the only reaction product ob- In those cases in which the polymerization is initiated tained together with poly-a-oxyacylic acid. at 80C, e.g., with the use of light or a redox system as As described in an earlier application, it is possible to a radical-yielding polymerization catalyst, it is necesproduce a-chloracrylic acid from acrylic acid and chlosary for the polymerization batch to be successively rine which are catalytically freed from gaseous hydroheated for a period of at least 1 hour to temperatures gen chloride. With this in mind, it is possible in accorwithin the range 80 and l 10C, so as to ensure hydrodance with this invention to produce poly-a-oxyacrylic lysis to poly-a-oxyacrylic acid. If another polymerizaacid from acrylic acid and chlorine in accordance with tion catalyst is used as the initiator, it is good practice the following scheme of formulae, without any signifito start operation at temperatures higher than 80C, at cant formation of undesirable or useless pollutive bywhich poly-oz-oxyacrylic acid as the polymerization and products:

n CH =CHCOOH 11 C1 n CH =CCl COOH n l-lCl COOH r1 cu :CCl-COOH n H 0 CH -cn 2. 2 2 +-n HCl 0H sum:

OOH

n CH =CHCOOH n Cl n H O CH 2nHCl OH n In those cases in which the polymerization, more particularly the hydrolysis, is effected with vigorous agitation, the resulting poly-a-oxyacrylic acid is obtained in finely pulverulent and readily filterable form. Agitation can be extensively replaced by boiling the batch at temperatures within the range 100 and 110C, whereby the liquid is kept in motion.

After filtration and washing, it is possible for poly-aoxyacrylic acid to be reacted with equivalent quantities of a base and to be converted to its salt, which preferably is the sodium salt. It can, however, also be converted to its potassium and ammonium salts.

Depending on the particular manner in which the polymerization is effected, the resulting poly-a-oxyacrylic acid has a complexing power for calcium within the range 100 and 150 mg Ca/g. This was determined potentiometrically with the use of a calcium-sensitive electrode. The overall power for sequestering lime, which includes the value determined for the complexing power, lies between 160 and 320 mg Ca/g. This was determined by subjecting poly-aoxyacrylic acid in an aqueous sodium carbonate solution having a pH of to titration with a 0.05N calcium acetate solution until turbidity caused by CaCO was noticed.

The relative viscosity, which is an index of the degree of polymerization, was determined in each particular case on a 1 weight percent solution of poly-aoxyacrylic acid in ZN-NaOl-l at 20C, with the use of an Ostwald viscosimeter.

The yields were calculated on the basis of a degree of lactonization of two thirds.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 1:

(cf. German Patent Specification No. 2 061 584; use of 2,3-dichloropropionic acid) 286 g (2 mols) of 2,3-dichloropropionic acid in 700 cc of water and 164 g (2 mols) of anhydrous sodium acetate were heated to boiling in a 2 liter flask. As the mass could not be found after 1 hour to have been rendered turbid by polymerization products, there was added 5 cc of a 1.5 weight percent aqueous solution of potassium peroxo-disulfate-(Vl) X 8 0 This effected the formation of a precipitate, the volume of which could not be increased by boiling over 2 hours with the addition of a further 25 cc of a 1.5 weight percent K S o -solution. The whole was kept at boiling temperature for a further 1 hour and precipitated insoluble polymer was filtered off. The poly-u'oxyacrylic acid so obtained was scrubbed first with water and then with acetone, and dried. The yield was 98 g or 63 mol percent.

78 mg Ca/g Complexing power for Ca:

171 mg Ca/g Power for sequestering lime:

A 1 weight percent solution in 2N NaOH had a relative viscosity of 0.1, at 20C.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 2:

an agitator and a solution of l 12 g of KOH (2 mols) in 400 g of water was added dropwise thereto, at 30C. After all had been added, the mass had a pH of 7.3, which was reduced to 2.5 by means of a mixture of 55 g of concentrated sulfuric acid and 100 g of water. Analysis indicated that the solution contained 34.8 g (approximately 1 gram atom) of chloride ions. 0.5 g of 14 5 0,, was added and polymerization occurred at once at C with the resultant formation of a precipitate. To ensure that the polymerization was complete, there was added twice after 1 hour 1 g of K S O and the whole was stirred, each time for 3 hours at 80 C. After cooling, the precipitate was suctionfiltered, washed with water and acetone and dried.

Poly-a-oxyacrylic acid was obtained in a yield of 21 g or 27.5 percent of the theoretical.

The filtrate was extracted five times, each time with cc of ethyl acetate, the extracts were collected and dried with MgSO After evaporation, there was obtained 25 g (20 percent of the theoretical) of a-chlorhydracrylic acid in the form of a clear viscous solution. Molecular weight (determined by titration):

Calc.: 124.5 Found: 126.5

The IR-spectrum was identical with that of a comparative specimen of a-chlorhydracrylic acid.

The above Example shows that the treatment of 2,3- dichloropropionic acid with KOH produces desirable a-chloracrylic acid together with considerable quantities of oz-chlorhydracrylic acid which is per se not polymerizable. As this is a strongly hydrophilic acid, the extraction is certainly not complete so that larger quantities than indicated are very likely to be formed.

EXAMPLE 1:

(Polymerization by light) 101 mg Ca/g Complexing power for Ca:

252 mg Ca/g Power for seguestering line:

A 1 weight percent solution in 2N NaOH had a relative viscosity of 0.41, at 20C.

The sodium salt was prepared by reacting 25 g of poly-a-oxyacrylic acid with 25 g of a 50 weight percent sodium hydroxide solution and by evaporating the water in excess.

EXAMPLE 2:

(Polymerization by means of a redox system comprised of K S O /Na S O 300 g of a-chloracrylic acid and 30 g of 14 3 0 were dissolved at 30C in 3 l of water and a solution of 19.5 g of sodium dithionite Na S O in 100 cc of water was dropped thereto within 1 hour at that temperature.

After a further 1 hour, the batch was brought to boiling temperature with vigorous agitation and kept for 2 hours. Precipitated poly-oz-oxyacrylic acid was filtered off, washed three times, each time with 1 liter of water which was added dropwise within 6 hours. Following this, the whole was heated to boiling for 1 hour with agitation. Precipitated poly-a-oxyacrylic acid was filtered off, washed twice, each time with 1 liter of water and and dried at 60 C under vacuum. The yield was 188 g dried at 60C under vacuum. The yield was 365 g or 99 or 86 mol percent. mol percent.

Complexing power for Ca: 121 mg Ca/g Complexing power for Ca: 107 mg Ca/g Power for sequestering lime: 303 mg Ca/g Power for sequestering lime: 292 mg Ca/g.

The relative viscosity was 0.25. The sodium salt was made in the manner described in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 3:

(Polymerization by means of a redox system comprised of K S O /thioglycolic acid) 213 g (2 mols) of oz-chloracrylic acid, 2.13 g of X 8 0 and 5.3 g of an 80 weight percent thioglycolic acid in 2.2 l of water were stirred over 4 hours at 30C and the whole was kept then at a temperature within the range 95 and 101C for 3 hours with vigorous agitation. The resulting finely pulverulent poly-ozoxyacrylic acid was filtered off, washed twice, each time with 1 liter of water and dried at 60C under vacuum. The yield was 127 g or 81 mol percent.

128 mg Ca/g 275 mg Ca/g Complexing power for Ca: Power for sequestering lime:

The relative viscosity was 0.20. The sodium salt was made in the manner described in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 4:

Complexing power for Ca: Power for sequestering lime:

142 mg Ca/g 308 mg Ca/g The relative viscosity was 0.37. The sodium salt was made in the manner described in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 5:

(Polymerization in the presence of B-chloropropionic acid as a polymerization regulator).

488 g of a-chloracrylic acid and 12 g of B-chloropropionic acid in 900 cc of water were heated to 80C and mixed with 7 g of 14 8 0 with vigorous agitation. After 15 minutes, the whole was admixed with vigorous agitation with a solution of 13 g of K S O in 30 cc of water,

- Power for sequestering lime:

- Power for sequestering lime:

The relative viscosity was 0.29. The'sodium salt was made in manner described in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 6:

(Polymerization in a 20 weight percent hydrochloric acid as a polymerization regulator) 106.5 g (1 mol) of a-chloracrylic acid was dissolved in 1260 cc of a 20 weight percent aqueous hydrochloric acid and the whole was heated to C with agitation. 1.1 g of azo-bis-isobutyronitrile was added, the whole was kept at the temperature indicated over a period of 1.5 hours and then heated to temperatures within the range and C for 4 hours with agitation. Hydrogen chloride which was set free during the reaction, was delivered to a water-cooled reflux condenser and removed in gas form. Precipitated poly-a-oxyacrylic acid was filtered off, washed three times, each time with 500 cc of water and dried at 60C under vacuum. The yield was 77 g or 99 mol percent.

mg Ca/g mg Ca/g.

Complexing power for CA:

The relative viscosity was 0.19. The sodium salt was made in the manner described in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 7:

(Polymerization in a 20 weight percent hydrochloric acid as a polymerization regulator with recycle of reaction medium).

163 g of a-chloracrylic acid was dissolved in 2000 cc of an about 20 weight percent aqueous hydrochloric acid (this being acid used twice as a polymerization medium) and the whole was heated to 80C with agitation. Following this, 0.8 g of azo-bis-isobutyronitrile was added twice, in 1 hour intervals. After a further 1 hour, the whole was heated to boiling 108C) and kept at that temperature for 4 hours with agitation. Hydrogen chloride which was set free during the reaction, was delivered to a water-cooled reflux condenser and removed in gas form. Precipitated poly-a-oxyacrylic acid was filtered off, washed twice, each time with 500 cc of water and dried at 60C under vacuum. The yield was 105 g or 88 mol percent.

Complexing power for Ca: 1 10 mg Ca/g 242 mg Ca/g.

The relative viscosity was 0.15. The sodium salt was made in the manner described in Example 1.

EXAMPLE 8:

Product Biodegradability I ll approx. 30

We claim:

I. In a process for making poly-a-oxyacrylic acid by contacting a solution of a-chloracrylic acid with radical-yielding polymerization catalysts, heating and thereby hydrolyzing the resulting poly-a-chloracrylic acid in aqueous solution with the resultant precipita' tion of solid poly-a-oxyacrylic acid and separating the poly-a-oxyacrylic acid, the improvement which comprises contacting an aqueous a-chloracrylic acid solution with the radical-yielding polymerization catalysts for a period of at least 30 minutes and, while leaving the resulting poly-a-chloracrylic acid unseparated, heating it for a period of at least 1 hour to temperatures within the range 80 and llOC.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein light rich in energy is used as the radical-yielding polymerization catalyst.

3. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein a substance selected from the group consisting of potassium peroxo-disulfate-(VI), sodium perborate, azo-bisisobutyronitrile, benzoyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide is used as the radicalyielding polymerization catalyst in proportions within the range 0.1 and 12 weight percent, based on a-chloracrylic acid.

4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein a redox system comprised of an oxidant and a reductant is used as the radical-yielding polymerization catalyst in a total proportion within the range 0.1 and 20 weight percent, based on a-chloracrylic acid.

5. A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the oxi dant is a member selected from the group consisting of potassium peroxo-disulfate-(VI), sodium perborate, benzoyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide, and the reductant is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium dithionite, sodium sulfite, sodium thiosulfate and thioglycolic acid.

6. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous a-chloracrylic acid solution is used in admixture with between 0.5 and 10 mol percent, based on a-chloracrylic acid, of a member selected from the group consisting of thiols, allyl compounds and aliphatic halogen compounds as polymerization chain regulators.

7. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous a-chloracrylic acid solution is used in admixture with hydrogen chloride as the polymerization chain regulator.

8. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous a-chloracrylic acid solution is used in admixture with hydrogen chloride as the polymerization chain regulator, the solution subjected to polymerization being an a-chloracrylic acid solution in aqueous 10 25 weight percent hydrochloric acid.

9. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution of oz-chloracrylic acid is vigorously stirred for at least 30 minutes.

10. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous a-chloracrylic acid solution having radicalyielding polymerization catalysts dissolved therein is vigorously stirred for a period of at least 30 minutes.

11. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous a-chloracrylic acid solution having a radicalyielding polymerization catalyst or a redox system dissolved therein or being exposed to the action of light rich in energy, is maintained at temperatures within the range 20 and C.

12. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein an aqueous a-chloracrylic acid solution containing one of the radical-yielding polymerization catalysts as claimed in claim 3, is heated to temperatures within the range 80 and C.

13. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the poly-a-chloracrylic acid obtained in aqueous medium is left unisolated and vigorously stirred for a period of at least 1 hour at temperatures within the range 80 and 1 10C.

14. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the poly-oz-oxyacrylic acid being obtained in solid form on heating the aqueous solution to temperatures within water and dried under vacuum.

MIM I/ Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 99,521, involving Patent No. 3,890,288, W. VOgt, SS FOR MAKING POLY-ALPHA-OXY- E. Fischer and E. Auer, PROCE ACRYLIC ACID AND ITS ALKALI METAL SALTS, final judgment adverse to the patentees Was rendered Aug. 5, 1977, as to claims 1, 3, 11 and. 12.

[Official Gazette December 20, 1.977.] 

1. IN A PROCESS FOR MAKING POLY-A-OXYACRYLIC ACID BY CONTACTING A SOLUTION OF A-CHLORACRYLIC ACID WITH RADICAL-YIELDING POLYMERIZATION CATALYST HEATING AND THEREBY HYDROLYZING THE RESULTING POLY-A-CHLORACRYLIC ACID IN AQUEOUS SLUTION WITH THE RESULTANT PRECIPITATION OF SOLID POLY-A-OXYACRYLIC ACID AND SEPARATING THE POLY-A-OXYACRYLIC ACID, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES CONTACTING AN AQUEOUS A-CHLORACRYLIC ACID SOLUTION WITH THE RADICAL-YIELDING POLYMERIZATION CATALYST FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AND, WHILE LEAVING THE RESULTING POLY-ACHLORACRYLIC ACID UNSEPARATED HEATING IT FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST 1 HOUR TO TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE RANGE 80* AND 110*C.
 2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein light rich in energy is used as the radical-yielding polymerization caTalyst.
 3. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein a substance selected from the group consisting of potassium peroxo-disulfate-(VI), sodium perborate, azo-bis-isobutyronitrile, benzoyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide is used as the radical-yielding polymerization catalyst in proportions within the range 0.1 and 12 weight percent, based on Alpha -chloracrylic acid.
 4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein a redox system comprised of an oxidant and a reductant is used as the radical-yielding polymerization catalyst in a total proportion within the range 0.1 and 20 weight percent, based on Alpha -chloracrylic acid.
 5. A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the oxidant is a member selected from the group consisting of potassium peroxo-disulfate-(VI), sodium perborate, benzoyl peroxide, dibenzoyl peroxide and cumene hydroperoxide, and the reductant is a member selected from the group consisting of sodium dithionite, sodium sulfite, sodium thiosulfate and thioglycolic acid.
 6. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous Alpha -chloracrylic acid solution is used in admixture with between 0.5 and 10 mol percent, based on Alpha -chloracrylic acid, of a member selected from the group consisting of thiols, allyl compounds and aliphatic halogen compounds as polymerization chain regulators.
 7. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous Alpha -chloracrylic acid solution is used in admixture with hydrogen chloride as the polymerization chain regulator.
 8. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous Alpha -chloracrylic acid solution is used in admixture with hydrogen chloride as the polymerization chain regulator, the solution subjected to polymerization being an Alpha -chloracrylic acid solution in aqueous 10 - 25 weight percent hydrochloric acid.
 9. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous solution of Alpha -chloracrylic acid is vigorously stirred for at least 30 minutes.
 10. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous Alpha -chloracrylic acid solution having radical-yielding polymerization catalysts dissolved therein is vigorously stirred for a period of at least 30 minutes.
 11. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aqueous Alpha -chloracrylic acid solution having a radical-yielding polymerization catalyst or a redox system dissolved therein or being exposed to the action of light rich in energy, is maintained at temperatures within the range 20* and 80* C.
 12. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein an aqueous Alpha -chloracrylic acid solution containing one of the radical-yielding polymerization catalysts as claimed in claim 3, is heated to temperatures within the range 80* and 110* C.
 13. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the poly- Alpha -chloracrylic acid obtained in aqueous medium is left unisolated and vigorously stirred for a period of at least 1 hour at temperatures within the range 80* and 110* C.
 14. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the poly- Alpha -oxyacrylic acid being obtained in solid form on heating the aqueous solution to temperatures within the range 80* and 110* C, is filtered off, scrubbed with water and dried under vacuum. 